The Structure and Construction of Formal Research Networks: a Policy Oriented Understanding of Stakeholder Engagement

ven the complexity of the modern research environment, funders (usually government agencies) are encouraging the formation of formal research networks (FRNs). FRNs have a predictable structure which includes primary and (whether acknowledged or not) secondary stakeholders as participants. Policy and program managers need to understand the larger structure, not just the internal operations, of the networks. We propose the use of actor-network theory to understand the strategy and construction of FRNs, and in particular to understand the specific problems surrounding FRNs for social science sand humanities research.